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Cold-Read Task There Are Several Myths About Atalanta. in Some She Cold-Read Task Read “Atalanta’s Race”. Then answer the questions. There are several myths about Atalanta. In some she is a huntress, while in others she is known for her speed. This myth is about Atalanta the Swift. Atalanta lived in a kingdom ruled by her father. She was so proud of her gift of speed that she vowed to her father, the King, that she would only marry the man who could beat her in a race. Man after man came to the kingdom to race Atalanta, and none succeeded in beating her in a contest of speed. The youths who came to race Atalanta were so many that the king had to discourage them somehow. He decided any young man who raced Atalanta for her hand in marriage, and lost, would also lose his life in the bargain. (1) One day, a youth named Hippomenes arrived in Atalanta’s kingdom. He saw a crowd of people gathered and walked over to them. Hippomenes soon learned that a race was about to begin, and what the consequences were for those who lost. (2) “How foolish those youths are,” cried Hippomenes, “to try to win a bride with their very lives as the price!” (3) But then Hippomenes spotted Atalanta, and he understood why the youths would risk everything to marry her. He had never seen a more beautiful woman, and he vowed he would win her. Even as he thought this, the race began, and Hippomenes watched as Atalanta quickly passed all the youths in the race. On and on she raced, swift as an arrow, until she reached the last goal mark and a victor’s wreath was placed upon her head. (4) Hippomenes made his way through the crowd up to the front, and stood before the king. “Why does Atalanta spend her time racing these weakly youths? I have the blood of Poseidon1 in my veins. If Atalanta defeats me, truly she will have accomplished something.” (5) 1 Pronounced “poh-sahyd-n.” He is the Greek god of the sea. Grade 4: Lightning Thief Although Atalanta tried to discourage Hippomenes, for she fell in love at the first sight of him, Hippomenes insisted. A race was set for the next day. (6) Late that evening, Hippomenes saw a glimmer in the distance, and after squinting, could see that it was a woman walking toward him. (7) “I am Aphrodite,”2 she said. “And I have come to help you in your race tomorrow.” She then showed Hippomenes a shining tree branch from which a golden apple hung. “Use this apple to prevent Atalanta from winning the race tomorrow, for I wish that girl to have a husband.” And then she vanished. (8) Though Hippomenes did not know how the apple would help, he took it gladly and went to sleep. (9) *** Atalanta and Hippomenes knelt down at the start of the race course. At the king’s signal, the trumpets sounded and the race began. Though for several minutes the two were evenly matched, Atalanta began to pull far ahead of Hippomenes and he grew fearful. Then he remembered the golden apple, and as soon as he touched it, he knew how he should use it. Using all his strength, he threw the apple forward as far as he could. The apple landed slightly ahead of Atalanta, and then rolled off the course and down a steep hill. Atalanta quickly changed direction and went to find the apple, for the shiny object had distracted her. (10) As Atalanta busied herself with finding the apple, Hippomenes ran as fast as he could toward the goal mark. He was only a few paces away when he began to hear Atalanta’s footsteps behind him. He again summoned all his strength and reached the end of the course just a few steps ahead of Atalanta. (11) Turning to Hippomenes, she said, “You have won, and I will gladly give up the thrill of the race to be your bride.” (12) The king gave the young couple many gifts, but the one Atalanta always treasured most was the golden apple of Aphrodite. (13) 2 Pronounced “af-ruh-dahy-tee.” She is the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Grade 4: Lightning Thief 1. Read these sentences from the passage. One day, a youth named Hippomenes arrived in Atalanta’s kingdom. He saw a crowd of people gathered and walked over to them. Hippomenes soon learned that a race was about to begin, and what the consequences were for those who lost. ​ ​ Part A Which is the meaning of the word consequences in the passage? ​ ​ a. It means something or someone that produces an effect, result, or condition. b. It means the relationship between an event or situation and a possible reason or cause. c. It means a fact, condition, or situation that makes it proper or appropriate to do something. d. It means something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions. Part B Which quotation from the passage best helps to demonstrate Hippomenes’s understanding of the word ​ ​ consequences? ​ a. “. to try to win a bride with their very lives as the price!” b. “If Atalanta defeats me, truly she will have accomplished something.” c. “. this apple to prevent Atalanta from winning the race tomorrow . .” d. “I will gladly give up the thrill of the race to be your bride.” 2. Part A Why does the king create such a terrible result for the men who lose their races against Atalanta? a. He wants fewer men challenging Atalanta to races. b. He does not like his daughter challenging men to races. c. The king does not want Atalanta to marry anyone. d. The king knows that Atalanta will feel sorry for the men and stop racing. Part B Which sentence from paragraph 1 best supports the answer to Part A? ​ ​ a. “She was so proud of her gift of speed that she vowed to her father, the King, that she would only marry the man who could beat her in a race.” Grade 4: Lightning Thief b. “Man after man came to the kingdom to race Atalanta, and none succeeded in beating her in a contest of speed.” c. “The youths who came to race Atalanta were so many that the king had to discourage them somehow.” d. “He decided any young man who raced Atalanta for her hand in marriage, and lost, would also lose his life in the bargain.” 3. Which sentences best summarize the passage? ​ ​ a. Hippomenes thought it was crazy for anyone to risk his life for a bride but challenged her anyway. After Atalanta won the race against Hippomenes, Hippomenes was killed. Aphrodite gave Atalanta a golden apple as a reward for winning the race. She remembered Hippomenes with a statue honoring the race. b. Hippomenes saw Atalanta and challenged her to a race in order to win her hand in marriage. The goddess Aphrodite provided a golden apple to Hippomenes to use to win the race. While running the race, Hippomenes threw the golden apple to distract Atalanta, and then Hippomenes won the race and took Atalanta for his bride. c. Because Hippomenes threw the apple to distract Atalanta from the race, Atalanta lost the race and became Hippomenes’ wife. Aphrodite became jealous and gave Atalanta an apple which killed her. Atalanta’s father blamed Hippomenes and imprisoned him. d. Hippomenes saw Atalanta while preparing for a race and challenged her. He begged the goddess Aphrodite for help and received a golden apple. While running the race, Hippomenes threw the golden apple but Atalanta was not distracted from the race. Hippomenes lost the race. 4. Select the words which best describe Atalanta at the beginning and end of the story. Write those words in the boxes below. Then provide evidence from the passage to support each selected adjective. dishonest obedient foolish cruel boastful Adjective Evidence At the beginning of the story, Atalanta is... At the end of the story, Atalanta is... Grade 4: Lightning Thief 5. Part A: Why does Hippomenes state that if Atalanta beat him in a race, “truly she will have accomplished something”? a. He is the most accomplished runner from his kingdom and knows he would win. b. He is not as brave as the other youths and plans to back out before the race begins. c. He asks for help from Venus before the race because Atalanta is too slow to win. d. He is related to the god of the sea and believes this makes him more powerful than others. Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A? ​ ​ a. “He had never seen a more beautiful woman, and he vowed he would win her.” b. “‘I have the blood of Poseidon in my veins.’” c. “‘And I have come to help you in your race tomorrow.’” d. “He again summoned all his strength and reached the end of the course just a few steps ahead of Atalanta.” 6. Part A: What is the theme of the passage? a. It takes teamwork and persistence to get the job done. b. Love always finds a way. c. A clever strategy can make the impossible possible. d. Running away from your problems never solves anything. Part B: Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A? ​ ​ a. “On and on she raced, swift as an arrow, until she reached the last goal mark and a victor’s wreath was placed upon her head.” b. “Although Atalanta tried to discourage Hippomenes, for she fell in love at the first sight of him, Hippomenes insisted.” c.
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